Title: Prophecy's Child
Author: Artemis Luna Diana
Rated: R
a/n: hey peps! Now you all get to finally find out one of the reasons why 'War is Only the Beginning' has been lacking steady updates… or actually updates period… right… ANYWAY! I hope you all like this little story I've cooked up. This is a rather complicated story so I can tell you right off the bat that updates will be slow. I'm trying to make sure that there are no errors in the storyline. Thanks to Lucy for the encouragement and the beta-read! Now! On with the show!
***
PART ONE:
***
time: two weekens after 'Fractures' and Stark has returned
***
"Pip! Just back off for five microts!" John felt a brief moment's worth of guilt at Chiana's hurt expression, before shrugging it off as the ever-present pain in his heart flashed. "Harassing me won't help the situation," he said firmly.
"I'm just trying to help," she said softly.
"I realize that." John sighed. "Look Chiana, I've already thought of a way to ease the tensions that currently running rampant."
"What do you mean?" Chiana asked suspiciously.
"I'm jumping ship for awhile."
Chiana stared at him in shock. "What?" she stuttered.
"Look, Aeryn needs time away from me, but she needs to be on Moya where she can talk to Pilot and the rest of you guys. She can't leave so I have to. I'll just go for a couple of weeks, Pilot has already picked out the planet, and Aeryn can begin to heal."
"John, that's crazy. You can't go by yourself!"
"Why not?"
Chiana tapped her comm. without moving her eyes away from John. "D'Argo come to John's quarters immediately."
"Chiana," John protested.
"Is something wrong?" D'Argo asked.
"No!" John replied firmly, just as Chiana countered with a high-pitched 'yes!'
"I'm on my way," D'Argo said after a microt.
Chiana clicked off her comm. "Chiana, why are you getting him involved?"
"Maybe because he can force you to stay," she returned primly.
"He can't force me to stay," John countered. "I'll go wherever the frell I want to!"
"Where are you going?" D'Argo asked hearing the last bit of John's outraged statement.
"Geeze!" John said throwing his hands up in the air and turning. "I'm packing. Both of you go away."
"He's going to some planet Pilot picked out, BY HIMSELF!" Chiana yelled darting for John's bag in an attempt to delay his packing.
John pulled the bag out of her reach. "Chiana, quit!"
"D'Argo! Do something!"
"John, are you sure about this?" D'Argo asked, not wanting to pick sides just yet.
"Yes, damn it! I'm tired of people trying to convince me not to go! Pilot, Crais, and Chiana have tried. If you start…" John rolled his shoulders in an unconscious attempt to control his rapidly rising temper.
D'Argo studied the still packing John for a few microts before turning to Chiana. "It is his decision, and he can take care of himself."
"THANK YOU!" John shouted just as Chiana's outraged scream sounded.
"How long will you be gone?" D'Argo asked ignoring Chiana.
"A few weekens tops. I'll give you a firm answer once I get down there. Then I want you all to leave and come back for me when the time is up."
"John, I'm not so sure that is a good idea. We could stay in orbit, and no one will go down," D'Argo said uneasily.
"No. I want to be sure that no one is checking up on me. This is as much for me as it is for Aeryn. Aeryn needs your support without me around, and I need to be by myself for awhile."
"Are you going to tell her you're leaving?" Chiana asked frustrated.
John stopped packing long enough to look at her for a microt and say, "Yes." John closed his bag and picked it up. "I'm going there now."
Chiana and D'Argo watched him walk to Aeryn's quarters. "This is a bad idea, D'Argo."
"Did you have another vision?"
"Yes."
D'Argo glanced at her. "And?"
"It will change him. Something is going to happen down there and it will change him."
"For the better or for worse?"
"I don't know."
D'Argo shifted uneasily. "We'll stay here in orbit. I won't leave him on some planet."
Chiana nodded and glanced around John's room before leaving. D'Argo left the room behind her, shutting the door as he went.
***
"Aeryn?"
Aeryn glanced up at the door to see John standing there with a bag over his shoulder. Her heart leapt, he wasn't leaving was he? She looked back down, continuing to clean her pistol.
He sighed softly, but she still heard it. "Aeryn, I'm going planet-side for a few weekens. I'll see you when I get back." He left, heading to the docking bay where the Farscape module sat.
Aeryn looked up at the empty doorway and cursed her treacherous heart. She wanted to run after him, beg him to stay or to let her go with him. She didn't want him to leave her again. But she couldn't. She couldn't stand to feel the pain again. If she got too close, he'd die again.
***
John landed the Farscape at the coordinates the Consul of the Ak'nar had provided when Pilot had contacted them. Pilot and Crais had arranged for him to stay as a guest of the Ak'nar government. Apparently, they had taken a shine to Crais and were willing to give him whatever he wanted.
He was met by a humanoid alien with white skin, piercing blue eyes, and straight black hair that reached his waist. "You must be John Crichton. My name is Arihe; I will guide you to your lodgings."
"Thanks," John replied and grabbed his bag.
As they walked down the busy streets, Arihe filled John in on the history of the planet, Po'lir, and some of its culture. "You mean there were two different species that evolved on this planet at the same time without ya'll wiping at least one of them out?"
"Yes. That is what is written in our histories. However, the Te'lah believe that the Teacher brought them here from another world to fulfill a destiny." He shot a look at John that said 'don't-ask-me-what-the-frelling-destiny-is-I-don't-know-and-I-don't-care.'
Taking that expression to heart, John asked a different question. "Well how do you tell the difference?"
"All those you have seen are of the Ak'nar. It's rare for one of the Te'lah to come down from the mountains. While their physical appearance basically resembles us, their eyes and their language are different." Arihe glanced at John and then continued when he saw the puzzled expression on the Human's face. "Their eyes are completely black, and they reverse their language."
"Reverse their language?"
"Instead of saying, 'this food is good' they say 'good this food is.' It can get quite confusing if you try to have more than a basic conversation with them."
"I can imagine."
"Here are your lodgings. Please call if you require assistance. Is there anything you would like right now?"
"No. Just make sure that none of my shipmates find out where I am. When I want to contact them, I will. I don't want them checking up on me."
"As you wish."
"Thank you, Arihe."
"It is my pleasure, John Crichton."
***
John spent the first few days sleeping. Needless to say, he hadn't been getting much on Moya. He had briefly considered moving over to Talyn for awhile but decided that would be too weird and settled on going planet-side. He was glad he had, if only for the fact that he was sleeping 14 arns of a 20 arn day. He had been more tensed and stressed than he realized.
Harvey had dropped in a few times in an attempt to pester him, but John had rolled over and gone back to sleep. Harvey had quit trying after awhile. The Ak'nar brought him food each day and invited him to participate in the festivals that were being held every night for the next monen. So far, he had turned down the invitation to 'party-hardy' in favor of getting his much needed rest, but he figured he'd join in sooner or later.
On the fourth day of his sabbatical, he woke somewhat early with a restless feeling. Unable to fall back asleep, he left his apartments and walked outside to observe the festivities. Despite the fact that he felt relaxed on this planet – a rarity in itself – he carefully made sure that Winona was fully charged, and he had spare oil. He had changed into soft khaki-colored pants and a white t-shirt to prevent himself from standing out too much. He strapped Winona to his thigh and pulled on a matching khaki duster that hid her from sight. He dropped the spare oil cartridges in one of the pockets and did a quick survey of the rooms before leaving.
John settled himself at an outside bar, sipping fellip nectar and keeping a careful eye on the crowd. Despite his reservations, he ended up getting quite into the party. He returned to his apartments late that night and fell into an exhausted slumber. Waking up the next morning with a mild headache, he grinned and decided to do it all again.
During three days of partying, he never once completely let down his guard. Despite that, he didn't notice three Ak'nar that never let him out of sight. When he fell asleep the third night of partying, he was in the apartments the Ak'nar provided. When he woke up, instead of having a mild headache like before, he felt the effects of a full hangover… and he wasn't in his apartments.
He rubbed bleary eyes and tried to take in his surroundings. The first thing he noticed was that Winona was missing. Coming on the heels of the realization was that his clothing had been changed. He was wearing all white, giving him a momentary flashback of the Royal Planet. White pants, a white t-shirt with no sleeves, even white boots partially hidden by his pants. "What the frell?" he mumbled. When he tried to stand up, he was hit with a wave of dizziness and sat back on the bed. He put his head between his legs and tried to even his breathing, waiting for it to pass. When the room finally stopped spinning, he carefully glanced around. White walls. That was it. Other than the bed he sat on – that wasn't really a bed, more like a cot – there was nothing else in the room. It looked about 16x16 with one door and no windows.
"Hello?" he called out. "Anyone there?"
The door opened to reveal a lone Ak'nar woman. "Awake you is. Good that is. Hungry are you?"
Well, he thought she was an Ak'nar. Her language said otherwise. Once she got closer he could see her eyes were completely black. No white, no iris, just black. She was one of the Te'lah.
She looked him over as she approached, stopping a good distance away. "Feel well you not." When he didn't answer, she nodded. "Bring Lirin I. Help she you." The woman turned and left the room. John was still trying to figure out exactly what had happened to him.
A few microts later she returned with another Te'lah woman, presumably the Lirin she mentioned. That presumption was confirmed when the woman set down a medical bag beside him and introduced herself as the chief medic named Lirin.
"Where am I? How did I get here?" he asked as soon as the blinding headache began to dull.
"Te'lah with you. Help you is we. Take from Ak'nar did we," she replied.
"You kidnapped me?"
Lirin frowned puzzled. "Says Teacher you help. Teacher says do. Crichton help."
Taken at face value, it seemed like he was suppose to help them, but if he figured out the reversing language thing… they were suppose to help him? John's headache was starting to return full force, whatever medicine she had given him wasn't working.
"What?" he asked. He rubbed the tension spot between his eyebrows and blinked confused eyes at her.
She looked at him concerned. "Sleep now you. Yet not recovered."
"Recovered? From what?" he asked suddenly frightened. Before he could move away from her, she injected him with something.
"Sleep," she said and for John Crichton the world went black again.
***
"He's been down there for a weeken without contacting us!" D'Argo yelled frustrated.
"Yelling at me won't help!" Chiana shouted back. "You and Crais have your little spies telling you what he's doing. Besides, he doesn't even know WE'RE HERE!"
"Chiana is correct," Pilot said trying to calm his angered friends. 'Why do they choose to have their fights in my Den?' he wondered. "Your informants tell us he is enjoying himself at their festivals."
"I still think something is wrong," D'Argo growled.
"Do you not believe the informants?" Pilot asked quietly.
"I don't know! I do know that I don't like him down their alone!"
"Chiana, have you had any more visions?" Pilot asked the silent Nebari.
Chiana was suddenly torn. Yes, she had experienced another vision… and she knew that John was afraid. However, she also knew that they weren't suppose to interfere. She stared back at them, refusing to answer.
"Chiana," D'Argo started.
Chiana watched him a microt and then turned to leave the Den. "Chiana, are you alright?" Pilot asked concerned.
She stopped but didn't turn around. "I'm fine, Pilot… and so is John." She walked out without looking back. She didn't want them to see the doubt that crossed her face.
***
John woke to see Lirin standing over him. "Crichton wake."
His head still splitting, he slowly tried to sit up. Lirin immediately reached to help him. After a quick glance proved that Lirin was the only one in the room, John pounced. Despite the fact that his headache slowed his reflexes, the element of surprise allowed him to pin Lirin to the floor.
"Where am I?" he asked, struggling to keep his nausea under control.
His grip on her neck made speaking difficult. "Mountains. Te'lah Home," she wheezed.
"How do I get back to the Capital?"
She shook her head. "Know not." When his grip tightened, she elaborated. "Been never."
He hauled her to her feet, then nearly caused them both to fall again when the room spun. Refusing to give up his advantage, he gritted his teeth and tightened his grip on her. "Take me out of here," he ordered firmly, the microt he regained his equilibrium.
They slowly walked to the door. It was unlocked, and John felt a moment's puzzlement before dismissing it. They stepped out of the room. Taking a quick glance around told him that they were alone… and underground. "Frell," he cursed. Focusing his attentions back on Lirin, he said, "Where is my weapon."
"Know not," she replied. He had eased the grip on her neck somewhat to allow her to breathe easily. That grip tighten once more at her answer. "Know not," she repeated.
"Lirin!" a voice cried out in shock.
John and Lirin looked up to see a Te'lah male coming towards them. He appeared unarmed but looks could be deceiving. "Stay back!" John yelled and pulled Lirin in closer as a shield.
Unfortunately, the abrupt movement caused another wave of nausea. This time he was unable to keep it under control. Forced to release his grip on Lirin, he shoved her away and vomited on the floor. Retching painfully, he was unable to keep Lirin and her friend away from him. Lirin disappeared for a few microts and returned with another syringe. This time he didn't feel so bad about sinking into oblivion.
***
'Perhaps we were wrong to try and remove the neural clone.'
'The Teacher didn't not mention a neural clone in his instructions.'
'Presumed much did we.'
'How long will it be before he recovers?'
'Stress much on system. Days two.'
'We'll have to keep him sedated until then. He's too much of a risk when he can't think clearly.'
'Pain in him.'
'Yes, the neural clone was not happy about his attempted removal. The damage he caused was extensive. We were fortunate to have a complete understanding of his brain.'
'Praise Teacher.'
'Teacher be praised.'
'Time much not.'
'Soon look friends.'
'We won't be able to keep them from searching for him indefinitely. The sooner he wakes and is able to call them off himself, the better.'
John opened sore eyes to see four figures standing beside him. Lirin and her friend from the hall, a Delvian male, and the Ak'nar who greeted him when he first arrived: Arihe.
"He's waking," the Delvian said calmly.
"Sleep now must," Lirin said and leaned down to give him another injection.
Before his drugged-sleep could claim him again, he was able to mumble one question that had guilty looks appearing on all four faces. "What did you do to me?"
***
When John woke the next time, it had been four days since he had returned to his apartments the third night he had gone to the festival. He was alone in his room. Sitting up, he experienced no nausea, and thanked Heaven for small favors. Before he could stand, he suddenly had company.
"John! I've been trying to reach you for days! Do you have any idea what they have been doing to us! They tried to remove ME!"
"Aw, hell," John mumbled and dropped his head into his hands. "They didn't manage it."
"John, are you listening to me! This does not help our relationship," Harvey remarked still anxiously pacing the small room.
John looked up sharply at that. "We do not have a relationship," he said emphatically.
"John!"
"Will you stop whining!" John interrupted. "Calm down! It's bad enough I have you running around in my head; I don't need you having a nervous breakdown."
The door opened and both looked towards it. Lirin, her friend from the hall, and the Delvian entered the room. "I see your awake, John Crichton. The headaches and nausea are gone I presume?" the Delvian asked.
John ignored the question. "Who are you?"
"My name is Xohan. You've meet Lirin, the Te'lah's chief medic, and this is Gankre, one of their leaders."
"What do you want with me? No. Better question. What did you do to me?"
"The reason you were so sick was because we tried to remove the neural clone. Since we heard you speaking, I am assuming you realize that we failed."
John flicked his eyes to Harvey. "Yeah, he's still here."
"John, we must get out of here," Harvey said urgently.
"He thinks we should get out of here, now. While normally I don't agree with half the dren he says, this time I do. I want out of here. I want to return to Moya, and I want to do it like yesterday."
"Possible not. Must help we you," Gankre replied.
"I don't want or need your help," John replied.
"Unfortunately, in that respect you are very wrong, John Crichton. If we do not help you, you will be quite insane in less than two monens."
Harvey and John stared at Xohan in shock. Harvey turned to John and studied him. "They've done something, and I don't understand what it is, but they're right," he told John horrified.
John's jaw clenched in anger. He stood slowly. "What did you do?" he spoke slowly and menacingly.
"Says Teacher. Do we," Gankre replied.
"The Teacher has requested your presence the moment you wake. We have delayed long enough. Come."
"No."
"If you want your answers. You will come."
Xohan had managed to hit on the only thing that would have made John Crichton leave under his own power. John scowled at him. "Fine."
"John–"
"Shut-up, Harvey."
Xohan studied the man before him. Even now, his aura was unbelievable. Four days under heavy sedation, his mind severely damaged by the neural clone he carried, not to mention what they had done, and still the power radiated off of him in waves. He doubted John even knew it.
Lirin and Gankre led them out of the room. John followed them, and Xohan walked behind him. Free to study the Human.
"How do you get us into these situations?" Harvey moaned.
"What happened to your famed self-preservation instincts?" John hissed.
"It's not my fault you drunk us into a stupor!"
The one-sided bickering continued down the corridor, and Xohan had a glimpse of why they had been unable to remove the clone. Despite his original intentions, this clone would end up being helpful to John Crichton, the Messiah.
When they finally reached their destination, John's and Harvey's argument had stopped. "Now what?" John asked when they stopped in front of a tunnel that led deeper underground.
"Enter the tunnel. The Teacher waits for you."
"You're not coming?" he asked suspiciously.
"Only two others still alive have met the Teacher. You will be the third in this lifetime."
"Honor Great," Gankre added.
"None of you have met this Teacher?" John asked incredulous.
"Met Teacher Xohan. Time ago long," Lirin replied. "Never I. Never Gankre."
John looked at Xohan who returned his gaze calmly. "You will not be harmed, John Crichton." He gestured to the entrance. "Your answers are waiting for you."
John entered the tunnel without further comment. Xohan, Lirin, and Gankre watched him as he walked away. "Now we wait," Xohan said calmly.
"Days many in you were," Lirin commented.
"It was a long time before I understood. I don't believe the Messiah will have that problem."
"Yes," Gankre agreed.
"It was said by the Prophet G'lahar in the Wars of Fire… 'And the Messiah will come. He will suffer and die. And the Messiah will come. He will live and suffer. And the Messiah will come. He will lead us to peace to find his own. And the Messiah will come. And the Messiah will come.'" Xohan quoted softly.
"Peace soon come?" Lirin asked hopefully.
"I don't know," Xohan replied sadly. He glanced at Gankre. "Before you ask, no I don't know how he will die and live again."
"Symbol?" Lirin asked.
"No, I don't think so. I believe he will die." It would have relieved the three watchers to know that that part of the prophecy had already been fulfilled. John Crichton had suffered and died. John Crichton was alive and suffering still.
***
John cursed as he stumbled again. Despite the fact that his headache and nausea were gone, he had spent the last four days sedated and it was rapidly catching up to him. He had already been walking for over an arn. Harvey was kind enough to let him know every few hundred microts exactly how long they had been walking deeper and deeper towards the planet's core… and to the Teacher.
Nearly half-an-arn later, the tunnel widened and opened into an immense cavern. The rock formations this deep were a sight to behold. The whole cavern was lighted, though he couldn't see how. A rather large lake sat directly in his path. A small canoe rested on the shore, and John approached it cautiously. Even though there were no people around, John suddenly remembered an old Greek legend where the hero climbed onto a ferry were a creature that sounded remarkably like Death took him across the water for the price of a gold coin. He couldn't remember what quest the hero was on and didn't remember the Death creature doing anything to him, but he still felt a shiver go down his spine and looked cautiously around for any cloaked skeletal beings.
Pushing the canoe into the water, John hopped in and began to paddle.
***
A quarter of an arn later, John reached the opposite shore. He climbed out of the canoe and looked around. A step-pyramid made of stone was directly ahead of him. He ran a nervous hand through his hair and started forward. It didn't take long to reach the base of the pyramid, and with a quick glance up, he began climbing.
When he finally reached the top, he stepped into the room perched on the pyramid. Inside was an altar, with two torches on each side, in the center; the walls were painted with scenes. Stepping close to one, he recognized a leviathan surrounded by Peacekeeper vessels. Frowning he stepped closer. Just beyond the leviathan was a wormhole… with one small white module coming out. He stepped back abruptly. "No way," he whispered softly.
He looked at the next picture. It was him and Aeryn, on Moya. He traced Aeryn's face. "Aeryn…" Chiana locked in one of Moya's cells was the next picture. Him standing in the light as the wormhole information was put in his brain by Jack. Next was him in the Aurora Chair; Scorpius leaning over him. Quickly stepping to the next; it was the destruction of the Gammak Base, and a small Talyn was in the corner. "What the frell is going on?" He swallowed hard at the scene of Aeryn's prowler going down on the ice planet with him watching from above. He didn't notice the figure that came into the room and watched him walk from picture to picture. He stared at the picture of his twin dying on Talyn; Aeryn beside him. The next image sent a shiver down his spine: He was tied up in a cell on what appeared to be a Command Carrier. His image was staring through the bars at Scorpius and Aeryn; the bastard had a pulse pistol pointed at her head. He stared at that image the longest before finally letting out a shaky breath and moving on. The next image was of him standing in this room at the altar.
"You should stop there." John whipped around at stared at the source of the voice. "It's not good to know too much about your future."
John glanced back at the picture and then looked to see how far he had gone. He wasn't even halfway around the room.
"Only the most significant events are recorded on these walls… your meeting of the Lady, and of the Guide… the rest are recorded in the Texts of G'lahar."
"You're the Teacher?" John questioned.
"Yes." The figure stepped closer into the light. He was humanoid… and he looked like a Vulcan. The Teacher smiled. "Live Long and Prosper." He laughed. "This form was chosen because of the respect it seems to generate in you. A logical being, one that teaches, and tells the truth."
John smiled humorlessly. "So Mr. Spock, what are you going to teach me?"
The Teacher smiled. "Your past." John's smile faded. "Come here," he said and stepped to the picture of the Farscape's entry into this side of the Universe. John slowly walked over to the picture.
"These paintings are over 5000 cycles old. We have been waiting a long time for you, John Crichton." John remained silent. "Your arrival is self-explanatory, it's easy to see why it is significant." The Teacher stepped to the next picture. "Your meeting with the Lady. She is the love of your life, the mother of your children."
"Aeryn's not pregnant. She's had no children by me," John replied dully. Unimaginably hurt by the Teacher's words. Aeryn wanted nothing more to do with him.
"Not yet," the Teacher replied smiling.
John stared at him. "What are you saying?"
"Aeryn will return to your side. She can do nothing else, she loves you. She is destined for you, just as you are destined for her." The Teacher smiled again. "Come." He moved to the next picture.
"Meeting Pip was a significant event?" John asked.
"She is the Guide. Once you truly begin down your path, she will be your advisor and guide. Without her, the future is not assured. You are at the center, with Aeryn and Chiana at your side. The three of you are essential to the peace G'lahar prophesized. You must make sure that they both live through your assault on the Tortured One."
"The Tortured One?"
"Scorpius." The Teacher paused as he looked at the image of John in the Aurora Chair. He glanced back at John. "This was one of the events that could have altered the future that was seen. Your assault on Scorpius is another."
John laughed slightly. "He is known as 'The Tortured One?'"
The Teacher was not smiling. "Yes." He explained matter-of-factly about Scorpius's past, and John felt almost guilty about making fun of his name in the prophecies.
John was silent as the Teacher explained each of the pictures. When they reached the one of his twin dying, the Teacher began quoting:
As the Messiah was once forced to know the pain,
The Lady must also know of it.
Only when both have lost can both be found.
"This event was for her," the Teacher explained quietly.
John swallowed the tears that wanted to fall. He glanced at the next picture and then turned and walked to the altar. He cleared his throat. "So Scorpy is my next significant event?" he asked in an attempt to change the subject from Aeryn.
The Teacher smiled sadly at the pain so evident in his posture. "Yes, but we will talk of this later. It is time for you to return. Xohan has much to teach you. When he is done, we will speak again."
"What did you tell them to do to me?" John asked, staring into the Teacher's eyes.
"Our time here is finished for now. Good-bye, John Crichton."
John started to step forward, "Wait just a –" John stopped mid-stride and mid-sentence as he found himself back at the tunnel entrance. Gankre, Xohan, and Lirin were waiting for him.
"Now eat time," Lirin told him.
"I'm sure you still have questions, John Crichton, but you must understand that they will be answered at the proper time. We will not keep anything from you, but you must learn it all in a certain order." Xohan explained, stopping John's angry tirade before it could begin. "Your first lesson will begin after your meal."
"Come. Now eat," Gankre said and began walking back down the tunnel towards John's room.
***
John ate alone. Xohan had some sort of business to take care of with the Teacher; Gankre was busy doing leader stuff, and Lirin was called to care for a very sick Te'lah woman. When he finished, he slept a little, waking when the door to his room opened. Gankre walked in.
"Now you tell," he said and stood a little in front of where John sat on the cot.
"Okay, tell me," John replied, hoping he'd get a straight answer this time.
"Special your brain is. Species of yours will gift have. Early it gave we."
"What?"
"Special." Gankre pressed two fingers to John's forehead. "Gift gave we."
"What did you do?"
Gankre dropped his hand and stared at John puzzled. "Species will gift have. From now long time. Early gave it we."
John frowned. "I don't understand. My species has a gift?"
"Gift will have."
"Okay, will have, and you gave it to me?"
"Yes!"
John rubbed his hands over his face. "Right." He dropped his hands and stared at Gankre. "What is the gift?"
Gankre pressed two fingers to John's forehead again. "Speak. Hear. Move."
"What?"
Gankre pressed harder. "Speak. Hear. Move."
John pushed his hand away. "I still don't understand!"
'Slow he is. Way to go is far. Training hard will be.' Gankre sighed again and spoke very slowly. "Speak. Hear. Move."
"Speak, hear, move: doesn't tell me dren!" John paused for a microt. "And I'm not slow!"
Gankre smiled, showing every one of his pointy teeth. "Hear you is."
"Of course I'm here!"
"No! Hear you is."
"God, have mercy! Save me from aliens who can't speak properly! They are driving me insane!" John moaned and fell back on the cot.
'Speak not proper I? Speak not proper him.'
"Will you stop talking like I'm not here!"
"Speak not I."
"Yes, you did. You said I was the one who wasn't speaking properly."
"Speak not I. Thought I did. Gift you have. Speak. Hear. Move."
John sat up slowly. "You can't be seriously saying what I think you are saying."
"Not have gift I. Not know think you what."
"You are talking about telepathy and telekinesis, aren't you?"
"Words Xohan says."
"This is what the Teacher told you to do to me? To… frell… evolve my brain?"
Gankre stared at him in confusion. "Not understand I."
"Well that makes two of us."
"Train you must," Gankre said after a microt. "With me come." Gankre grabbed a hold of John's arm in a firm grip and pulled him off the cot. "With me come."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming. I still don't understand why, but I'm coming."
***
John followed Gankre into a small room. It was completely empty. No furniture, no people. John looked around and glanced puzzled at Gankre.
"Wait." Gankre turned and left the room.
John didn't have long to wait before Xohan entered. "I do apologize, John Crichton. I had not meant to be gone for so long. I assume Gankre told you of your gifts?"
"Yea, he said I am a telepath with telekinesis abilities."
"Yes, you are. My function is to train you. Your gifts will drive you insane without guidance and stability. I can teach you, but your stability will come from another source."
"What is that source?"
"There are other aspects of your gift that Gankre didn't mention."
"Like what?" John asked warily.
"You will be able to strengthen your friend's gift."
"My friend's…" John trailed off as a memory surfaced. 'Did you see that in one of your visions?' His mouth dropped open slightly in wonder. "Chiana."
"Yes. Her gift will be very useful to you. Also she will provide stability for you until Aeryn is ready."
"Aeryn?" John asked astonished.
"Yes," Xohan replied not noticing the affect his statement had on John. "Your link will help keep you sane. Until that time, Chiana will help center you."
"Link?" John breathed.
"Your minds will join; the combined strength will keep you sane."
"How will the link form?" he asked.
"It will form naturally over time, but…" He paused as a thought crossed his mind, 'Should I tell him the disadvantages of the link?'
"Yes, you should," John replied.
Xohan cringed. "I'm sorry." He gathered his thoughts and tried to stop the flow of embarrassment that was running through him; he hadn't meant to be loud. "Once the link is formed, you two will be connected, permanently. Nothing can break the link, including death. If one of you dies, so will the other."
John was silent, staring down at his hands. Finally he looked up. "At least I'll never have to live without her," he said quietly. "When will it form? You said 'over time' – how long is that?"
"That all depends on her."
"Is it possible that the link… won't form?"
Xohan briefly considered lying since the possibility of it not was so slim, but figured John wouldn't appreciate his attempt at protection. "Yes, but the chances of that happening are very narrow. The Teacher has a lot of faith in her love for you."
John sighed. 'At least someone does,' he thought miserably.
"We must begin. You have already begun to pick up and process thoughts that are unconsciously broadcast. Your first lesson will be reading surface thoughts."
John smiled grimly. "I can see why they selected a Delvian teacher for me. Are you a Pa'u?"
Xohan smiled. "Of the 16th level." John gave a low whistle. "Please focus your thoughts, John Crichton. It is time to begin."
***
Six arns later, John stumbled into his room and crashed on the cot. His brain felt fried. Xohan had been more than patient, but Harvey's sarcastic comments had disrupted his concentration. It had taken over an arn to learn how to scan surface thoughts. Once he had, it had taken over two arns to learn how to block the steady stream of chatter he began hearing. He had to keep up a mental wall or be forced to listen to every meaningless thought that popped into someone's mind. Xohan had then tested his distance. The Teacher had told Xohan that John's ability would continue to grow for the next few monens. His range and strength would increase as time progressed. At the moment, John could sense thoughts of people 50 meters away. Xohan sent him to bed after that, and John was more than grateful.
He slept for ten arns. When he woke Arihe was waiting for him. "You all might want to bring in some chairs if you insist on waiting for me to wake up," John commented groggily.
Arihe smiled. "I have just come from the capital. Your friends are getting very impatient. You should talk to them to alleviate their worries."
John sighed. "Yea, sure. Where is my comm. badge?"
Arihe produced it from a pocket in his robe and handed it to John. John gave a cocky grin and turned the comm. badge on. "Yo! You guys up there?"
"John?" Jool asked.
"Hey, Princess!"
"John, you should talk to D'Argo. He's going completely farbot."
John laughed. "I can imagine. Put him on." He heard her tell Pilot to inform D'Argo that John wanted to talk to him.
"John! Are you alright?" D'Argo demanded.
"Just fine, Big Guy. I kind of figured you'd ignore what I said."
"John," D'Argo began somewhat guiltily.
"Forget it. I said I knew you'd ignore it. How is Aeryn?"
"She refuses to talk to any of us, including Pilot," D'Argo replied apologetically.
"Is she alright?" John asked sitting up on the cot, concern etched into every feature.
"Physically, yes."
"Then don't worry about it. She'll come to you when she's ready… and when you stop freaking out about the fact that I'm down here. I'm fine, D'Argo. I'm here playing at the festivals. Don't waste time. I'll be down here for…" He paused and glanced at Arihe, who shrugged. "However long I'm here. When you get some good news about Aeryn, contact me. Then I'll tell you when I'm coming up. Until then, don't comm. me and don't come down."
"John," D'Argo protested.
"D'Argo, is that John?" John heard Chiana say.
"Yes, but –"
"Let me talk to him!"
"D'Argo, I want to talk to Pip alone," John added
D'Argo was silent a moment. "Fine."
"Thanks, man," John said. He waited a microt. "Pip, you alone?"
"Yeah, Old Man. Jool and D'Argo both left, and Pilot's suppose to ignore this conversation."
"Tell him to erase it when we're done."
"Okay. Are you alright now?"
"Yeah, I figured out some things. You knew?"
"I knew you were afraid."
John was silent. "Yeah, I was," he said after awhile.
"But everything is okay now?"
"Yeah. Chiana, you wouldn't believe…"
"I get the feeling you'll tell me eventually," she said, her smile evident in her voice.
"You're right. I'll talk to ya later, Pip."
"Bye, Old Man."
John turned the comm. badge off and glanced at Arihe. "Can I keep this?"
"Of course, John Crichton." Arihe hesitated. "Was that the Guide?"
John studied Arihe for a moment before replying. "That was Chiana."
Arihe nodded. "I must return to the capital. I will speak to you again, John Crichton."
John acted impulsively and scanned the departing Ak'nar. 'The Messiah and the Guide are already connected. The peace will come! The Teacher was right! I didn't believe…'
John sighed and dropped his head into his hands. "At least someone believes all this mumbo-jumbo."
"You don't believe?"
John glanced up. When Arihe left, Xohan had entered. "I don't know what I believe. The paintings, the Teacher, this gift… it all seems unreal."
"I understand your hesitation." Xohan paused. "Why do you stay so willingly if you don't believe?"
John rubbed his hands over his eyes. "Insanity is something Delvians understand well."
"As I fear the madness, so do you." Xohan acknowledged.
"What are you here to teach me today?" John asked with forced cheerfulness and attached his comm. badge to his shirt.
"How to speak with your mind," Xohan replied.
***
Two weekens later, John had mastered the most basic aspects of his gift and his range and strength had tripled. He was able to speak telepathically, read all surface thoughts, and move objects about half his body weight. Xohan was pleased with his progress, but John was annoyed with how slow they were going. Xohan had finally agreed to begin teaching him how to read deeper into someone's mind. The potential for disaster was enormous with this first try. Much to John's relief, it went better than Xohan expected. Though it had taken John a large amount of energy to complete, he had read every thought in Lirin's mind without causing any damage… and Lirin had not sensed the invasion.
John crashed on his cot and slept. When he woke again, Xohan was waiting for him. "John Crichton, I feel I have been holding you back. I believe we should proceed faster at your training."
John smiled. "About frelling time."
Xohan seemed startled at that announcement, then smiled at John's obvious enthusiasm.
***
A weeken later, John's abilities to scan people had reached their limits, everything he could learn, he had. The same was true for his telepathy. He could influence decisions of people, plant thoughts inside their heads, and give large amounts of information instantly. His telekinesis had increased as well. His ability to move objects had increased so much that they had yet to find a weight limit. He was also able to stop objects from coming towards him, for example, a pulse blast. Xohan had been very nervous about firing on his Messiah but John had demanded the test. He was able to stop the pulse blast and turn it away from him. It also worked when the pulse blast wasn't directed at him. Meaning he'd be able to prevent one of his friends from getting shot.
John had been sleeping when his comm. badge went off. "John!"
"D'Argo?" he questioned groggily.
"John, a Peacekeeper Command Carrier will be here in two days. You need to get back up here, now!"
John hesitated a microt. "D'Argo get everyone together in Command and call me back.
"What?" D'Argo asked astonished.
"Do it!" John yelled and ended the transmission. Jumping up, he headed out the door to find Xohan. 'Xohan? Where are you?'
'I have just left the Teacher.'
'I'll meet you in the hall then.'
'Is something wrong?'
John sent him the conversation with D'Argo and his plan. 'I need to see the Teacher before I go.'
John and Xohan met in the hall. "I'll gather your things. You should have the Guide come down. I'll be able to help you then."
"Right. Where is someplace I can call them and actually see them?" John lifted the answer from Xohan's mind. "Thanks. That's where I'll be."
***
"Here is your weapon."
"Winona… you got a face-lift too, huh?" Just as John was only to wear white clothes, so was his weapon to be white. "I don't think I've ever seen a white pulse pistol before," he said humorlessly, running his fingers over her sides.
"Your holster."
John took the white holster and glanced up at Xohan. "You all ever heard of varying your choice of colors?" Xohan smiled slightly. "Didn't think so," John said with a grin.
He had actually grown use to wearing white. White pants, white shirt, white boots, white duster, and now he was adding a white pulse pistol to the mix. He laughed slightly, amused at himself. Xohan left the room when his comm. badge went off.
John called them up on the Te'lah's communication device. They were shocked to see John in all white. They didn't notice Winona though. Before any of them could speak, John began talking. "I have a few things more I need to do before I can leave. You said we have two days till the Command Carrier shows up?"
"Yes, but it would be best if we left now," Crais replied, astonished that John would even think of staying.
"No can do. If you all decide to leave now, it will be without me."
The crew stared at him in horror. Aeryn nearly spoke her own protests, stopping herself just as her mouth opened to pour out her anger, fear, and frustration. She snapped it closed again. No one had noticed her emotional response, they were too busy yelling at John.
"You all have two microts to shut-up or I'll end this communication," John said calmly.
The group immediately quieted. "Crichton, what is going on?" Crais demanded.
"As I said, I have a few things left to do." His gaze turned and fastened on Chiana. "I want Chiana to come down… alone. It's important, Pip… and I think you know that. If anyone else comes…" John trailed off. His threat didn't need to be said, his friends knew he'd be upset with them. Usually that wouldn't bother them, but this time, they each feared he might stay on this planet.
"Sure, Old Man," she replied, smiling hesitantly. She did know. She did know that what happened next was very important, and that she needed to go alone. "I'm on my way."
"I'll send the coordinates to Pilot," he said and watched her walk out of the room. His eyes drifted over to Aeryn. He didn't have to be a mind-reader to know that she was upset; he just had to know her. What exactly she was upset about, though, was the mystery. "I'll call you again soon." He tapped a few buttons on the console in front of him. "You got the info, right, Pilot?"
"Yes, Commander. I'm sending it to Chiana's transport now."
"Good." He hesitated a moment, looking at Aeryn, before ending the communication. He let out a relieved breath and sat back. Gankre would bring Pip to him, until then, he'd just have to wait.
***
The communication cut and Aeryn gasped softly. She knew something was wrong with John, but the thought that kept playing over in her mind was: Why did he ask Chiana to come down? She even seemed to understand without being told. What was going on between them? She ruthlessly crushed those thoughts. 'You're being jealous, Aeryn.'
"Something is going on," D'Argo said unnecessarily.
"Yes," Aeryn agreed. "But if we go after them, I think we'll lose two shipmates."
"You honestly think Crichton would leave us because we were concerned?" Crais asked astonished.
"Yes. This time he would," Stark said softly.
"Why does it seem like you know something?" D'Argo asked suspiciously.
"I don't. I just know John. He means it," he replied.
"Getting angry won't help, D'Argo," Jool said trying to calm him.
"He wants to be alone to finish whatever he's doing. So leave him the frell alone! You all pull on him and give him nothing in return; it wouldn't surprise me if he left anyway!" Rygel said angrily and sped out of the room.
D'Argo growled at the retreating Dominar. "If we don't hear from them in two arns, I'm going down there," he said and stalked out.
Jool sent a helpless glance to Crais and Aeryn. "I'll see if I can't calm him down." She left, taking after D'Argo.
Stark left the room without a word. Aeryn glanced at Crais and then walked out. Crais stood alone in Command and cursed softly. 'What is Crichton up to now?'
***
John was still sitting in the communication room when Gankre brought Chiana in. Xohan had been sitting next to him, but stood when the Guide entered the room. Xohan bowed to her. John glanced at Xohan and then watched Chiana for her reaction.
She stared at Xohan for a moment before fastening her gaze on John. "Well?"
'Well, are you ready?' he asked.
She stared at him. His mouth had not moved, but he spoke to her. "What's going on?"
She closed her eyes suddenly as another vision assaulted her.
~VISION~
"Chiana, help me!"
"I'm doing everything I can! But you must focus!"
'I don't want to lose my mind!'
'I won't let you! Just hold on, John!'
~REALITY~
Chiana swayed slightly, and John's eyes narrowed as he picked up the images in her vision. He glanced down. Xohan had once asked him what it would take to make him believe… Seeing himself on the edge of insanity was not what had popped into his mind at the time.
'Chiana. I will need your help.'
"Tell me," she whispered. John nodded and sent the information to her. It took her a few microts to process the information. When she did, her first question was, "How long?"
"Without a permanent source of stability, two monens… maybe."
Chiana felt tears welling up, and pushed them down ruthlessly. She'd cry later. "So," she laughed, though it had an edge of hysteria, "How are you going to strengthen my gift?"
John smiled slightly, recognizing her defense mechanisms. "It's okay, Chiana. I'm sure the link with Aeryn will form."
"No you're not," she replied softly. "But I'll be there for you until she does." They were silent for a moment. "So fix me up," she said brightly.
John grinned. "Yes, let me show you just how cool it is to be Human."
Xohan stepped closer to Chiana to monitor the changes. Chiana sent him an amused glance before looking back at John. John's mind reached out and touched Chiana's.
***
Two arns later: Crais, Aeryn, and Jool were attempting to keep D'Argo from getting to his ship or any of Moya's transport pods. D'Argo had nearly broke through, when Pilot spoke. "I'm receiving a transmission! It's from Commander Crichton!"
Everyone dashed back to Command. Rygel and Stark were joking with John, he seemed exhausted. "What happened?" D'Argo demanded.
"Don't worry about it," John replied, dismissing the question. "However, neither Chiana or I are up to flying. Someone needs to come down and fly up the module and the transport pod for us."
"You are both returning though right?" Jool asked worried.
John smiled slightly. "Yes, we just can't handle piloting right now. The module has been moved to the same location as the transport. That's where we will be waiting. Well, actually, Chiana will be waiting and I'll be there when I've finished one last thing. But come on down. We're basically ready to leave."
"Good. We're coming down now," D'Argo replied, and John cut the transmission. "We'll take my ship down. Who will pilot the module and the transport?"
"I can fly the transport," Crais replied, "But who knows how to fly the Farscape?"
"I'll do it," Aeryn said. The three left Command and headed for the D'Argo's ship.
***
When they landed, Chiana slowly stepped forward out of the tunnel to meet them. She was dizzy with exhaustion. D'Argo, Crais, and Aeryn stepped out: hands nervously fingering their weapons until they saw Chiana. D'Argo rushed to her when he noticed the state she was in. Aeryn and Crais weren't far behind. "What happened?" D'Argo asked softly as she leaned on him.
"Don't worry about it," she replied softly.
"Don't worry about it?" he returned heatedly. But his response fell on deaf ears, Chiana had fallen asleep. He picked her up. "What the frell happened down here?"
Crais and Aeryn watched as D'Argo carefully put her in the transport. The three stood there waiting for nearly half-an-arn until John finally emerged from the tunnel. Beside him walked two of the natives and one Delvian. The group stopped when they reached the three tense warriors.
"Hey, guys," John said softly. His exhaustion was just as apparent as Chiana's, if not as severe. He turned to his companions. "Good-bye, Lirin. Thanks."
"Crichton need not thanks," she replied blushing. Impulsively, she hugged him, and after a moment's surprise, he returned it. Her blush increased as she pulled away. "Bye." She turned and hurried back into the tunnel.
"I am glad I have met you, John Crichton," Xohan said stepping towards him.
"Same here," he replied. John copied Xohan's motions, so reminiscent of Zhaan. "Good-bye, Xohan." John grinned. "Don't miss me too much. I have it on good authority that we'll see each other again."
Xohan laughed. "Good-bye, John Crichton." D'Argo, Aeryn, and Crais didn't hear the rest of his statement, but John did. 'My Messiah.'
Xohan stepped back to allow Gankre to say his good-byes. He had one mission to complete before they could go, only John was not to know of it. When Gankre and John finished, Xohan pulled Gankre close to him and whispered his instructions. Gankre nodded in understanding, and Xohan left, entering the tunnel.
John climbed into the transport and sat down next to Chiana, his relief was enormous. Crais got in and fired it up. The transport was the first to lift off and return to Moya. D'Argo followed close behind. However, before Aeryn could get in the module, she was stopped by Gankre's words.
"Tomorrow die he."
Aeryn froze. "What?"
"Tomorrow die he, gone forever he. From long time now die he, gone forever he. Matters between time. Die he, lost you. Matter when not. Lost you still."
Aeryn frowned. "I don't understand."
"Matters between time. Matter death before."
"I still don't understand," Aeryn said growing frustrated.
"Say Xohan: 'if he dies now, you are lost. If he dies a long time from now, you are lost. What matters is what happens between now and his death.' Understand better you?"
Aeryn cleared her throat in an attempt to control her emotions. "Do you know when he is going to die?"
"Knows Teacher."
"The Teacher knows?"
"Yes."
"Who is the Teacher? Can he tell me?"
"For you to know not."
"Why?"
"For you to know not." Gankre turned and walked back into the tunnel.
"Frell," Aeryn cursed and choked back her tears. She climbed into the module and flew up to Moya. When she docked, Moya and Talyn Starburst.
***
The first thing that became glaringly apparent upon John's return was his and Chiana's behavior. They were never apart. They were even sleeping in the same room, though it wasn't either's quarters. No, both were sleeping in Pilot's Den. When asked about it, Pilot couldn't say why they had decided to start sleeping with him. The first night, they had just come in with pillows and blankets and gone to sleep. They never spoke to each other though, both were silent to one another. Or so the crew thought. In reality, they were never silent. Their thoughts were constantly bouncing back and forth.
The first hint anyone had of something like that was during dinner the second night.
The crew was silent because of John's earlier announcement. He still intended to go after Scorpius but he wanted to wait for two monens. Chiana completely supported him, including going after Scorpius. Something she had been completely against. So they sat in silence.
John had glanced up and looked around the table at everyone. Looking back down at his food, he tried to keep the smile off his face. Chiana wasn't so fortunate. The second John sent her his thought, she bust out laughing. John glanced up at her grinning.
Everyone stared at the two of them. "What's so funny?" Rygel asked suspiciously.
By this time, Chiana was laughing so hard she nearly fell off her seat, and John was laughing. He stood up, still laughing and Chiana struggled to stand and follow. The two left the room still laughing out of control.
Everyone else just sat there. "What just happened?" Jool asked.
"It was almost like they were joking with each other without speaking. I wonder what was so funny," Rygel said softly.
***
The next day, the crew got their next surprise. Chiana was dressed all in white. White pants, white boots, and a white top that bared her mid-riff. Coming on the heels of that, the crew finally noticed Winona.
"Why are you both dressed in white?" Jool questioned.
"It's the new fashion trend," Chiana quipped. John laughed, being the only one who understood her comment. The two had exchanged memories during one of their conversations. Now Chiana's phrases were colored with Crichtonisms, and John wasn't confused at everyone else's references.
"You're beginning to sound like Crichton," Jool replied annoyed. When they both started laughing she was ready to strangle them.
D'Argo intervened. "What happened to you two?"
"Oh, you know, just the usual dren," John replied smiling.
"Why is your pulse pistol white?" Crais asked.
D'Argo glanced at John's thigh; he hadn't even noticed John was wearing a pulse pistol. "It blends in with my clothes. D'Argo didn't even notice I was wearing one."
"He's right," D'Argo reluctantly agreed.
"See," John replied.
"That still doesn't answer why you both have decided to wear white," Crais noted.
"It's an uplifting color," Chiana told them. "White is pure…"
"Virginal," Crichton snickered.
"Though neither of you is that," Rygel replied laughing.
Chiana glared at John. "I was tying to explain why we were wearing white."
John laughed. "Chiana, we don't know why, how are we suppose to tell them?"
"Good point," Chiana grinned.
"I have some repairs to do," John said standing. "See ya later, alligator…"
Chiana followed after him. "After while, crocodile…" she called back to them as she left.
"What the frell is going on?!" D'Argo asked, for what seemed the umpteenth time. "And why don't they know why they're wearing white?!
***
"Aw, frell," John cursed.
"What's wrong?"
"Aeryn?" Chiana and John said simultaneously.
Both climbed out from under the console and turned to see Aeryn standing over them. "What happened?" she asked concerned.
"Nothing serious," John replied. "Just ripped my shirt."
"Oh," Aeryn replied.
"Chi, you think you can fix this?" John asked aloud for Aeryn's benefit.
"Take it off and let me see," she replied.
John shed his shirt somewhat hesitantly since Aeryn didn't seem to be leaving. As much as he was tempted to, he refused to scan Aeryn. He wanted to know what she was thinking, but he wanted her to tell him. He didn't want to snoop.
"What is that?" Aeryn asked.
"What is what?" John followed her gaze to his shoulder. "Oh, that." He shrugged and sent her a charming smile. "I always wanted a tattoo, so I got one." He wasn't going to say the truth: that he just happened to notice it when he was bathing. Xohan explained that the Teacher insisted it be placed there, and when John asked, the Teacher hadn't explained why.
Aeryn frowned. The tattoo was white, a circle with some sort of symbol in it. "Why did you choose that?"
"It seemed a good idea at the time," John replied hoping that she'd stop asking about it.
Chiana sensed this was a good time to but-in. "I can fix it, John. No problem."
"Good."
It seemed as though that would be the end of the conversation. Chiana handed John back his shirt, and Aeryn started to walk away. Until Stark walked in. Stark instantly noticed the tattoo and gasped in shock. Aeryn's eyes whipped back to John, who looked surprised and suddenly worried.
"John –" Stark began.
"Stark!" John cut him off. He quickly put back on his shirt. "Chiana, finish the repairs."
"Yes, John."
John walked over to Stark and took him by the arm. "Come on, I see we need to talk." John dragged Stark out of the room.
Chiana glanced at Aeryn and tried to duck back under the console, but Aeryn grabbed her. "What is going on?" she hissed. "What does that tattoo mean?"
"I don't know."
"You lie!"
"I don't know, and neither does John. But Stark obviously does, that's why John left with him," Chiana replied wincing. Aeryn's grip was hurting her.
"What happened to him?"
"Why don't you ask him. It's not my place to say. Aeryn! You're hurting me!"
Aeryn released her and shoved her away. Chiana rubbed the soreness developing on her arm. Aeryn's touch would leave bruises. Aeryn was silent as she tried to control her temper and fear. "But you know, don't you?"
Chiana studied her a microt before replying. "Yes. I know."
"Why did he tell you?"
"Because he couldn't tell you," Chiana answered without thinking. "Aeryn, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything," Chiana tried to apologize as she realized how much pain she must have inflicted with that simple statement.
Aeryn turned abruptly and left the room, but not before Chiana saw a tear escape from her control. "Frell," Chiana shouted and kicked the console. She stared at the console before sighing and climbing under to finish the repairs. 'I can't even tell John. He doesn't want to know what she thinks until she's ready to tell him.'
***
After that, Aeryn told everyone to stop asking John and Chiana questions. Both John and Chiana knew she had done it, but she didn't speak to either of them. Stark, Chiana, and John often locked themselves away from everyone for discussions that left the three drained. The questions were soon to begin again as John's deadline approached without a link to Aeryn.
They were gathered around the table for the evening meal, talking and joking around. John was in the middle of telling a joke when the pain knifed through him. The laughter stopped, and Chiana and Stark grabbed him as he started to tumble back to the ground. They carefully laid him on the floor while he grabbed his head in a vain attempt to stop the pain. When Jool tried to get close to examine him, Chiana pushed her away.
"Stay back!" Chiana yelled.
John opened unfocused eyes and Chiana grabbed his hands. "John, focus on me."
"Early," he gasped. "I thought I still had two weekens."
"I know. I know," she soothed.
When the pain began to subside, Chiana looked at Stark. "Is he alright?" he asked.
"For now. But it's early."
"I'll be alright," John said dully. "Just help me up."
"Wait, just lay here awhile," Chiana instructed.
John closed his eyes. "Fine."
"What just happened?" D'Argo demanded.
"Nothing you can fix," Chiana replied without turning.
"How do you know?" Jool yelled. "You won't let me near him!"
Chiana turned to face her. "I do know! So back off!"
"Stop yelling," John said weakly. The group fell silent and stared at John. After a moment he said, "Get them out, they can't keep it down."
Stark and Chiana stood. "Please leave," Stark said quietly. "We'll call you back in when he can handle it."
"When we come back, we want answers," D'Argo growled and stalked out of the room. Crais and Rygel followed without a word. Jool spared a glare for Chiana and worried glance at John before leaving. Aeryn hadn't taken her eyes off John since he collapsed.
"He'll be okay in a little while, Aeryn," Chiana spoke softly. Aeryn straightened and nodded, then left the room.
Chiana and Stark turned back to John. He opened his eyes. "Chiana…"
"I know," she replied softly and leaned down to help him up.
Stark and Chiana helped him to his quarters and he collapsed on the bed. Chiana laid down next to him, her mind reaching out to help stabilize him. Stark sat and watched the two sleep. John needed Aeryn, soon.
After about an arn, John's breathing evened and the pain faded. Stark took this as his signal to speak to the others. John and Chiana would be sleeping for awhile. He stood and locked the door to John's quarters. On his way to the central chamber, he commed everyone and told them to join him.
By the time he reached it, everyone else was there.
"Where is Crichton?" Crais asked when Stark stepped in alone.
"And where is Chiana?" Jool inquired.
"They are both resting. John is fine for now," Stark replied.
"For now? What's wrong with him?" D'Argo demanded.
"It has something to do with that tattoo," Aeryn realized.
"What tattoo?" Rygel asked.
"John has a tattoo on his shoulder. I don't know what it means," Aeryn replied.
"Is that true?" D'Argo asked.
"Yes. John does have a tattoo on his shoulder. And, yes, his illness is connected with it," Stark replied.
"So tell us what is happening!" Crais yelled frustrated.
Stark cringed slightly. "I can't tell you."
"WHAT?!" D'Argo roared.
"Well I can tell you, but I'm not suppose to tell you, so I can't tell you," he said quickly, shrinking back away from the group.
"That's what Chiana said," Aeryn said, cutting off D'Argo's angry reply.
"What did she say?" Rygel asked.
"She said that it wasn't her place to tell me what happened," Aeryn clarified.
"Well, could Pilot know what happened? I mean, they've been sleeping in his Den since we left Po'lir," Jool wondered.
"I have been monitoring your discussion. I am afraid I cannot tell you anything. They do not speak in front of me," Pilot replied.
"Has anyone actually tried asking John what happened?" Rygel asked. Everyone turned to the tiny Dominar. "No one has, have they," he said chuckling. "Stark and Chiana can't tell us because it isn't their place. But John probably could, and no one has asked him."
"Can't ask now. He must recover his strength," Stark insisted.
"Fine, when he wakes up, I want to talk to him," D'Argo said and brushed past Stark, nearly knocking him over. Stark glanced at the other occupants of the room before leaving, hurrying down the corridor to John's quarters.
Stark fell asleep about an arn later while he was watching over his friends. He didn't wake up when John did. Even if he had, John would have sent him back to sleep. Chiana didn't wake either, having completely tired herself out helping him get rid of the pain. He left his quarters and started walking down the corridor. He wasn't even halfway down the corridor when the pain slammed into him again. He cried out in pain and fell to the floor. Chiana woke instantly and dashed to his side. While she had heard his mental cry, someone else had heard his scream.
Chiana ran to his side. "John! John! Listen to me! I'm here! Focus on me!"
"Chiana, help me!"
"I'm doing everything I can! But you must focus!"
'I don't want to lose my mind!'
'I won't let you! Just hold on, John!' Chiana held him close as he tried to keep his grip on his sanity. The Teacher said the pain would come first, followed a few days later by the severe mood swings. His anger would gain control, and he'd lash out at everyone, starting with her and Aeryn. "I won't let you lose your mind, John!" she whispered fiercely. "I won't! I don't care what it takes, I'll make Aeryn listen! I won't let it happen!" Chiana began to cry. "This is my duty. I am the Guide. I'll support you until she can. I won't let this happen!"
They sat huddled in the hall, Chiana sobbing, John shaking in pain. And Aeryn watching and listening from down the hall.
***
John and Chiana were joined at the hip. Stepping even slightly away from each other would send John to his knees in pain. Stark managed to keep everyone away from the two, but it wouldn't be long before someone barged in and demanded an explanation. Aeryn had not tried to see them.
It had been one day since Aeryn had seen them huddled in the hall. She nervously approached John's quarters. Stark was sitting outside guarding the door. He stood when he saw her. "Aeryn… are you…"
"Can I see him?"
"Yes, go in, please!" He quickly opened the door for her and she walked in. The door closed behind her.
The lights were at 20%. They were sleeping. John's breathing was ragged and shudders racked his body every few hundred microts. Chiana lay curled up next to him. Her body tense even in sleep. Aeryn sat down on the floor beside him. She watched him for a few microts before reaching out and caressing his face. His breathing paused for a microt before evening out, and Aeryn stared at him. 'Did my touch do that?' Chiana's words echoed back to her: 'I don't care what it takes, I'll make Aeryn listen!'
"What's happening to you, John?" she asked softly. 'This is my duty. I am the Guide. I'll support you until she can.' She took his hand in hers. "What am I suppose to do for you? How can I possibly help you?" Resting her head on the edge of the bed, she watched him sleep. Soon the shudders faded. Aeryn glanced up at Chiana. A small sigh escaped her as her body relaxed into true sleep. Aeryn looked back at John. His eyes were open. "John…"
He squeezed her hand slightly and his eyes closed again as drifted back to sleep. A small frown creased her brow as she watched him sleep. She sat there for arns before falling asleep herself.
***
Chiana woke a few arns after Aeryn fell asleep. For the first time in days, she didn't wake with a headache. Worried, she glanced at John and saw Aeryn curled up half on the bed and half on the floor. She stared in shock a moment before a grin split her face. Breathing out a sigh of relief, she carefully stood, so as not to wake them, and left for the bathroom.
When she returned, she walked over to Aeryn. "Aeryn," she whispered gently.
Aeryn's eyes snapped open; she was instantly awake. She stared a microt at Chiana before turning back to John. Chiana watched as the emotions danced across her face: fear, anger, worry, and love. When she saw the last, she smiled. "Aeryn, he'll sleep better if you were touching him with more than just one hand," she spoke softly.
"Tell me what is happening to him," Aeryn whispered back.
Chiana sighed and sat down on the floor. "I've been forbidden to tell you. I nearly broke my word yesterday. If you had asked me then, I would have told you and said frell the consequences." Chiana met Aeryn's gaze. "I can't tell you, Aeryn." Aeryn looked back at John. "I know you still love him. Why do you stay away? He is John Crichton."
"I know that," Aeryn replied softly. "I…" she laughed humorlessly and turned back to Chiana. "I thought that if I got close to him again, he'd die. Stupid, right?"
Chiana looked down at her hands. "That's not stupid, Aeryn. You just have bad timing."
"What do you mean?" Aeryn asked.
Chiana shook her head, and Aeryn frowned in frustration. Aeryn stood, her hand still clutching John's.
"Aeryn, please stay with him," Chiana begged. "If only for a little while…"
Aeryn glanced at her before climbing on the bed. Before she could even settle next to him, he reached for her, pulling her into his embrace. Aeryn looked at his face, wondering if he was awake. He was still asleep. She laid her head down on his chest, her brow pinched with worry. She closed her eyes and listened to his heartbeat; her body relaxed, and she fell asleep.
Chiana watched them for a few microts before standing and leaving the room. It would help if there were two guardians at the door.
***
When John woke, it was with thoughts of Aeryn. He could smell her, feel her phantom arms wrapped around him. It took him a good 200 microts to realize that Aeryn wasn't a dream. He took a quick peek in her mind. She was dreaming of the first time they met. He smiled slightly. 'I'm glad you're here, Babe, but why are you here?'
Aeryn shifted slightly, and he knew this moment's peace was about to end. Aeryn opened her eyes to see him staring at her. She blinked sleepily before jerking completely awake. "Are you alright?" she asked. "Do you feel any better?"
John stared at her in surprise. "Yea," he replied after a moment. "This is the first time in days I haven't woken up in pain."
Aeryn gasped slightly at that. "Tell me what is happening to you," she pleaded softly.
"I'm losing my mind."
"Why? How?"
John glanced away from her. "Because I don't have any stability," he laughed humorlessly.
"What does that mean?" Aeryn demanded. "It's not funny! I don't want to watch you die again!" She pulled away from him and started to stand, but stopped when John hissed in pain. She immediately returned to his side, taking his face in her hands. "John?!"
"I'm alright, just a twinge," he tried to reassure her as the pain ebbed at her touch.
"Tell me," she whispered.
'You're so beautiful.' He traced the curve of her cheek. 'And I love you so much…'
Aeryn thought she could hear his voice as he touched her. "John, please tell me." Her throat locked with unshed tears as she took it a step further. "I love you."
John's eyes met hers. "Aeryn…"
"I do. I do love you, John. I don't want to lose you again," she told him as hot tears streamed down her cheeks to land on his hands.
John pulled her down to him, sealing her lips with his own. The kiss began tender, but Aeryn turned it passionate. They fought to remove their clothes without breaking the kiss. Over and over he whispered in her mind, 'I love you, Aeryn.' Over and over she returned his refrain, 'I love you, John.'
***
While they slept, the link between them began to grow stronger. Information began to leak from his mind to hers, and from her mind to his. The most recent events were the first to be exchanged. By the time they woke, John knew everything that happened to her since two cycles before he was shot through the wormhole, and Aeryn knew everything that happened to him since two cycles before he crashed into her life.
"John…"
"I'm sorry, Aeryn. I should have explained –"
"I love you."
"You're not mad?"
"No." They were silent for a few microts. "How long do you think it will be before the link has finished forming?"
"I don't know, but maybe Chiana or Stark could figure something out." He smiled at her. "It means your stuck beside me for the foreseeable future."
"I'm sure we can think of something to occupy our time," Aeryn smiled slyly. "Repairs… we could work on your module…" Aeryn trailed off as he kissed her.
They were interrupted by a knock at the door. "Tell them to go away," Aeryn moaned.
"It's Pip," he replied after he scanned the area on the other side of the door.
'Before you two start at it again, there are a few people who would like to see you. We've been holding them off for awhile now. I think they'll just barge in next time.'
"We have to go calm the masses," he said and started to pull away.
She pulled him back down to her. 'They can wait a little longer.' John laughed.
***
Outside the door, Chiana's mouth dropped open in shock. "And she says I'm a trelk?!" She noticed Stark edging closer to the door. "Stop trying to listen in!" she said pulling him away.
"Chiana!"
"Frell!" she cursed and turned to see D'Argo, Jool, Crais, and Rygel heading towards them. "You can't go in," she said emphatically.
"We are going in!" D'Argo yelled. "Aeryn might not care, but we do!"
"No! You don't understand!" Chiana tried to explain as Crais pulled Stark away from the door.
D'Argo pushed her out of the way and opened the door. D'Argo, Jool, Crais, and Rygel stared in absolute surprise. "Haven't you ever heard of knocking?" John asked shocked and slammed the door shut in their faces.
The four accidental peeping-toms stared at the door. "See," Chiana said, hands on hips. "I tried to tell you."
"When did that happen?" D'Argo asked. "Never-mind, I don't want to know. I do want to know if John will be okay."
"Yes. If you bothered to listen to me, I told you he would be," Chiana replied. "Now go away!"
Rygel floated off muttering about body-breeders and stupid Luxans. Crais walked off with a frown on his face, clearly not sure how to handle what he just saw. Jool glared at D'Argo before marching off in the direction of the apothecary, and D'Argo stayed long enough to apologize to Chiana before leaving.
"This place is like a soap opera," Chiana remarked sitting down across from the door.
"What's a soap opera?" Stark inquired.
Chiana dropped her head into her hands. "Now I know how John feels."
***
John and Aeryn stepped out of his quarters an arn later holding hands. Stark and Chiana stood. Chiana grinned at them, causing both to blush. John cleared his throat. "How long do you think it will take for the link to form completely?"
Chiana glanced at Stark with a shrug. "I don't know." Stark shook his head wordlessly. He didn't know either.
"Right," John sighed.
"What will we tell everyone?" Aeryn questioned. They all looked at John expectantly.
"The Teacher said not to explain unless it was absolutely necessary for our survival. We can't tell them."
"What about Stark?" Aeryn asked.
"We didn't tell him, he knew," Chiana replied.
"The tattoo on John's shoulder is the symbol of the Messiah. In certain races, that information has been passed down for 5000 years: Baniks, Delvians, Interions, possibly even Hynerians. I suggest that you keep it covered. Jool will recognize it immediately," Stark explained.
"No problem. I'm not taking my shirt off for anyone but Aeryn," he said cheekily. Aeryn grinned at him, and they shared a chaste kiss. The group set off for Pilot's Den at a steady pace. They had come across a few DRDs so they figured Pilot would call the rest of the crew to the Den. They were correct. Everyone was waiting for them when they entered.
"John," D'Argo spoke softly. "Will you now tell us what is happening?"
"Nothing's wrong, Heavy D. I'm fine."
"Crichton –" Crais began.
"However," John interrupted, "I do have a battle plan to draw up, and I need to know who will be helping."
"You can count me out!" Rygel replied heatedly.
"I'm not getting involved!" Jool exclaimed.
"Surely you can see this is foolish," D'Argo protested.
"If my assistance will be of use, then you have it," Crais said carefully.
"Thanks, Crais," John replied, ignoring the comments from everyone else.
"Commander Crichton, Moya and I –"
"Don't worry, Pilot. I know how you feel," John interrupted him. He turned to Crais. "In three arns we'll begin forming our plans. Meet us in the central chamber." He turned and left the Den, Aeryn following close behind.
"Aren't you going to follow him?" D'Argo hissed at Stark and Chiana. "You are his shadows?"
"No. He does not need us right now," Chiana said stiffly.
Stark glanced around nervously. "I will go meditate," he said and quickly left the room.
The rest of the crew left the Den without a word, leaving Chiana to stand alone with Pilot. "Are you angry, too?" she asked, her chin high and unshed tears burning her throat.
"I am not upset with you, Chiana," he said softly.
She nodded, jerkily, before the tears poured forth. Pilot stared at her in confused horror. He didn't know what to do with a sobbing Nebari. "Why are they mad at me?"
"Because you know and they don't," Pilot replied, hoping logic would stop the flow of tears.
Chiana hiccupped. "But that not my fault!"
"They know that, they are just upset that Commander Crichton does not appear to trust them… or me."
Chiana stepped forward and grasped one of his claws in her hands. "But that's not it. He does trust you all. He can't tell you anymore than I can. We aren't allowed to speak of it; the consequences would be devastating."
"But he told you, Stark, and Aeryn," Pilot pointed out.
"He was told to tell me and Aeryn; Stark found out on his own," Chiana explained.
"Then I apologize, Chiana, for my hasty thoughts."
Chiana shook her head. "Don't apologize, Pilot. I probably would have done the same."
"Will you be alright?"
"Yes." Chiana laughed slightly and released his claw. "Maybe I'll go ask Stark to teach me how to meditate."
"D'Argo is pacing the third tier," Pilot informed her quietly.
She smiled slightly. "Or maybe I'll wander over to the third tier."
Pilot watched her walk from his Den and sighed. There was so much going on that he didn't understand, and Chiana appeared to be taking the brunt of the fallout.
***
Stark, Chiana, and Crais were waiting in the central chamber when John and Aeryn arrived. John immediately began outlining his plan.
"First off I'll contact Scorpius and arrange for Aeryn and I to go in the module to his Command Carrier," John began.
"What? Not only will that give Scorpius what he wants most: you, but it will also give him something to use over you: Aeryn," Crais interrupted astonished.
"I'll refuse to cooperate unless our safety is guaranteed."
"That won't matter to him, he'll torture her till you do," Crais continued.
"If he does, then he'll lose me. If she dies, so do I," John replied.
Crais was shocked at how calmly John said that. He didn't realize that was the nature of their bond, hell he didn't even know there was a bond. If there hadn't been one, John would never have agreed to Aeryn coming with him.
"When you contact Scorpius, what will you say?" Chiana asked.
"That Aeryn and I will come over, fix his wormhole technology if he will leave us alone after that."
"He'll kill you the microt you finish," Crais interjected.
"I'm not going to solve his problems. That's where you come in, Crais. We won't be able to act immediately, that's too obvious. So after a few weekens, we'll destroy the info on wormholes and disable the ship. We'll need you to pick us up when we escape and Talyn to destroy the carrier," John explained.
"What about the prowlers and the carrier's weapons?" Chiana asked.
"We'll disable the weapons and prevent the prowlers from launching," Aeryn replied.
"Do you really think you can pull this off?" Crais asked.
"Yes," John answered.
"What about Stark?" Chiana asked.
John turned to Stark and studied him a moment before speaking. "Do you remember what we talked about?"
"Yes…"
"It's time. When we leave, take Moya back to Po'lir and wait for me."
***
END PART ONE
TBC
WELL... what do ya think? Please review or send me an e-mail!
~Artemis Luna Diana~
